4 ms·

By the same logic, I'm aware there likely isn't a prince in Nigeria who will send me a boatload of money if I send them .1% of that money over the internet. We

by alehul 8y ago

By the same logic, I'm aware there likely isn't a prince in Nigeria who will send me a boatload of money if I send them .1% of that money over the internet. We nonetheless, as a society, choose to shame and fight the action of the scammer, though many capable people fall for it. What I mean to say is that just because I'm taking a calculated risk does not remove the other party of moral and legal liability for their theft of some kind. In fact, the only argument I remember hearing (I think it was Marc Andreessen?) against the shaming of the scammer in the prince analogy is that they sometimes have no other option to feed their family. I doubt that justification applies to Chinese IP theft.

TeMPOraL 8y ago
> In fact, the only argument I remember hearing (I think it was Marc Andreessen?) against the shaming of the scammer in the prince analogy is that they sometimes have no other option to feed their family. I doubt that justification applies to Chinese IP theft. I do not necessarily agree with this argument, but it actually translates to China's situation pretty directly - you could argue that their attitude to IP is a necessary component of their attempt to quickly lift the whole country out of poverty.
- alehul 8y ago
  Fair point! From an ethical perspective I would still choose to shame it, but that equivalence can definitely be justified; it's no different than the Nigerian scammer but on a country-wide level. I like it. Another question would be whether the Chinese acquiring this IP would trickle down to help those in poverty, or whether the wealth would stay consolidated at the top.
  - TeMPOraL 8y ago
    > Another question would be whether the Chinese acquiring this IP would trickle down to help those in poverty, or whether the wealth would stay consolidated at the top. A good question. If hardware market is any good of an indicator, I'd be hopeful - https://www.bunniestudios.com/blog/?p=4297 https://www.bunniestudios.com/blog/?p=4297.
  - Fjolsvith 8y ago
    It certainly has to help someone in a re-education camp somewhere in China.

by alehul 8y ago

TeMPOraL 8y ago

> In fact, the only argument I remember hearing (I think it was Marc Andreessen?) against the shaming of the scammer in the prince analogy is that they sometimes have no other option to feed their family. I doubt that justification applies to Chinese IP theft. I do not necessarily agree with this argument, but it actually translates to China's situation pretty directly - you could argue that their attitude to IP is a necessary component of their attempt to quickly lift the whole country out of poverty.

alehul 8y ago
Fair point! From an ethical perspective I would still choose to shame it, but that equivalence can definitely be justified; it's no different than the Nigerian scammer but on a country-wide level. I like it. Another question would be whether the Chinese acquiring this IP would trickle down to help those in poverty, or whether the wealth would stay consolidated at the top.
- TeMPOraL 8y ago
  > Another question would be whether the Chinese acquiring this IP would trickle down to help those in poverty, or whether the wealth would stay consolidated at the top. A good question. If hardware market is any good of an indicator, I'd be hopeful - https://www.bunniestudios.com/blog/?p=4297 https://www.bunniestudios.com/blog/?p=4297.
- Fjolsvith 8y ago
  It certainly has to help someone in a re-education camp somewhere in China.